Configuring the Value Dashboard

In the BladeLogic Dashboard, the Value Dashboard presents data derived from a reporting application called BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation. The application gathers data from BMC Server Automation databases and populates a reports data warehouse. A report called BSA Value Dashboard runs regularly to obtain the necessary information.

The BSA Value Dashboard report fetches information for the past twelve months. For example, if the report runs on May 2, 2014, the report gathers data from May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014.

Before you begin

To use the Value Dashboard, you must first:

• Install BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation 8.2 or later.
• Run the extract, transform, and load (ETL) tool in BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation to populate the reports data warehouse.

If the database server is running on Oracle, the data warehouse user must be granted the following permissions:

• GRANT SELECT ON dba_free_space TO <data_warehouse_user>

• GRANT SELECT ON v_$log TO <data_warehouse_user>
• GRANT SELECT ON v_$tempfile TO <data_warehouse_user>
• GRANT SELECT ON v_$datafile TO <data_warehouse_user>
• GRANT SELECT ON v_$instance TO <data_warehouse_user>

If the database server is running on SQL Server, the data warehouse user must be granted the following permission:

GRANT VIEW SERVER STATE TO <data_warehouse_user>

Managing the BSA Value Dashboard report

A standard installation of the BladeLogic Dashboard sets up a BSA Value Dashboard report. It should run regularly using default settings and parameters. To manage the report, you can perform the following actions:

• To execute the BSA Value Dashboard report
• To change value parameters for the BSA Value Dashboard report
• To change the schedule and other standard settings
• To change the currency format
• To import the BSA Value Dashboard report into a reporting environment

See Troubleshooting if you encounter problems configuring or using the Value Dashboard.

To execute the BSA Value Dashboard report

Use this procedure if you want to run the BSA Value Dashboard report immediately.

1. Log on to the BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation portal as a user with privileges to run reports. 
2. In Public Folders, navigate to the BSA Value Dashboard folder.
   That folder contains a report named BSA Value Dashboard.
3. On the row for the BSA Value Dashboard report, under the Actions column, click the Run icon .
   A windows providing options opens. 
4. Choose the following options:
   • Format—Select HTML.
   • Language—A language is selected by default,.
   • Delivery—Select Save the report.
   • Prompt Values—Deselect Prompt for values.
5. Click Run.
   The report may take 5 to 30 minutes to complete depending on how many job runs and servers have been targeted over the last 12 months.

To change value parameters for the BSA Value Dashboard report 

By default the BSA Value Dashboard report is defined to use a set of standard values based on assessments BMC has performed. You can change those values to match the standards of your own organization. 

The default parameters are shown below:

1. Log on to the BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation portal as a user with privileges to run reports.
2. In Public Folders, navigate to the BSA Value Dashboard folder.
   That folder contains a report named BSA Value Dashboard.
3. On the row for the BSA Value Dashboard report, under the Actions column, click the Set Properties icon .
   A windows providing options opens. 
4. Click the Report tab.
5. Under Prompt values, click on the hyperlink Set…
6. Change parameter values as necessary.
7. Click Finish.
8. Click OK.
   The next time the report runs, it uses the values you have specified unless you explicitly override those value in an interactive run of the report. 

To change the schedule and other standard settings

By default, the BSA Value Dashboard report:

• Runs on the second day of every month.
• Keeps six sets of output and run histories.
• Shows the latest output by default.

Use the following procedure to change settings.

1. Log on to the BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation portal as a user with privileges to run reports. 
2. In Public Folders, navigate to the BSA Value Dashboard folder.
   That folder contains a report named BSA Value Dashboard.
3. On the row for the BSA Value Dashboard report, under the Actions column, click the Schedule icon  next to the report.
   A windows providing options opens. 
4. Under Frequency, select your desired schedule.
5. Under Options, make sure Formats is set to HTML
6. Under Delivery, select Save and then select Save the report.
7. Click OK. 
   The new schedule is applied to the report.

To change the currency format

1. Log on to the BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation portal as a user with privileges to use Report Studio. 
2. In Public Folders, navigate to the BSA Value Dashboard folder.
   That folder contains a report named BSA Value Dashboard.
3. Open the BSA Value Dashboard report in Report Studio.
4. In Properties (at lower left), click in the Data Format row.
   The Data Format dialog box opens.
5. For Currency, select a currency format. 
6. Click OK.
7. Repeat this procedure for all graphs that include the DollarSaved parameter.

To import the BSA Value Dashboard report into a reporting environment

A standard installation of the BladeLogic Dashboard sets up the reporting necessary for the Value Dashboard, and this procedure is not necessary. However, there may be situations in which you want to to set up and configure reporting manually.

1. Copy the BSA Value Dashboard.zip file to this location:
   BDSSA_INSTALL_DIR\portal\deployment
   
   BDSSA_INSTALL_DIR is the location where you have installed BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation.
2. Log on to the BMC BladeLogic Decision Support for Server Automation portal as a user with privileges to run reports
3. From Launch, select IBM Cognos Administration.
4. Select the Configuration tab.
5. Select Content Administration and then click the New Import icon .
6. Click BSA Value Dashboard radio button and click NEXT. After the next page appears, click NEXT again.
7. Select the check box for BSA Value Dashboard and click NEXT.
8. Click NEXT, click NEXT again, click FINISH, and then click RUN.
9. Check Box - View details of this import after closing this dialog.
   After the import is finished a message states "successfully imported objects."
10. In Public Folders, navigate to the BSA Value Dashboard folder and confirm that the folder contains a report named BSA Value Dashboard.
    You are ready to use the BSA Value Dashboard report.